Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-02-22
The Virginia Western.

We have faith in the future of the
Virginia Western, as we have several
times said heretofore. We are glad to
find that our exchanges published near
the conjectured route manifest much
interest in the new scheme. The Pea
risburg Virginian says:
"The Richmond Dispatch Of the
10Th says 'the Virginia Western rail-
road We are inclined to regard as the
most promising scheme now before the
public, and goes on to say if the route
is properly selected it may do more
for Richmond than the great Newport
News and Mississippi-Valley railroad
has done for her. This is saying Q
great deal.
But it is not saying more than the
merits of the new scheme justify us in
saying. We made that particular re-
mark in order to attract attention to
the subject, and not because We had a
word to say against the magnificent
road which has done so much to pro-
mote the prosperity of this city. We
are anxious that the people of Virginia,
and especially those of Richmond, shall
awake to the importance of the Virginia
Western road.
The New Castle Record Craig
county quotes from us as follows. The
Dispatch had said:
"The Virginia Western railroad we
are inclined to regard as the most pro-
missing scheme now before the public.
The important point in this case is the
route which may be selected. If pro-
perly located the Virginia Western
railroad may do more for Richmond
than the great Newport-News and Mis-
sissippi-Valley railroad has done for
her. This may seem to be an extrava-
CANT statement, for our present mag
nificent road has had great deal to do
with the rapid growth of Richmond in
population and wealth and yet the
Virginia Western may do a still
greater service to Richmond. 1t
will run in the right direction to draw
trade hither, and the region it will pene-
trate is q region that would rather trade
with this city than with any other in
the Union. The intelligent and far
seeing gentlemen who have this pro-
posed new line under consideration and
will have it under control will of course
make sure of one thing before they To-
cate their route, and this one thing is
the proper western terminus. There
are different routes which are practica-
BILE and desirable. The one which leads
through the largest and wealthiest con-
tributing territory to the best western
terminus is the one that should be Sc
lected."
The Record comments as follows:
"If the Dispatch has in its minds
eve the natural and undeveloped wealth
Of the territory which this road should
penetrate, rather than limited artificial
wealth, and this combined with easy
grades and such facilities as will cheaper
the construction of road, and if it
further has in its minds eye the city of
Memphis as a southwestern terminus
for the road, it would not be difficult to
determine what route the road should
take. Any discussion of this point Just
now, however, would be premature.
We have in our minds eye the region
which, as JOHN TYNDALL might say, has
the power and potency" of unlimited
wealth andpopulation. We look rather
to what is in posse than to what is in
cssc. But when We look again and see
how the northwestern States have built
up cities and towns, and increased in
wealth, in our own day, we cannot but
expect "quick returns" from the grand
region which the Virginia Western will
penetrate.